Internet may aid Africa Colleges (14)
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Crawford writes:
>> And then we wonder why people become sceptical of the benefits of
>> the Internet?!!! Either this World Bank project was reported very
>> inaccurately or this is yet another example of a totally misguided
>> attempt at 'technology fix'.
Lishan asks.......
Now, the project is launched (what do we do?). Universities in
Africa may need to push the Bank for conversion of the technology to
VSATs (for interactive access to TCP/IP and virtual university
simultaneously) or data casting over the current Receive-Only
satellite ground stations being installed in African universities.
This would allow students to receive usenet news while watching
their virtual teachers-;
Reading from the raging debate, it is clear that those pushing for the
project at the World Bank did very little in the last year to make
amendments to their initial concept. This concept was carried in a paper
presented to the Africa Region and the Finance and Private Sector Vice
Presidency of the World Bank.
The purpose of which was to seek funding for the project. Some of us had
the opportunity to read that paper and we raised most the questions being
raised again in this ongoing debate.
What do we do now that the project has been launched? I think all of you
making such wonderful comments need to bring them to the attention of the
project donor and coordinators. At least at the World Bank they can be
reached on:
avu@worldbank.org
As for the participating universities, I wonder whether they are well
informed of the implications of the project. The project implementation
strategies will not achieve the desired goals. The Bank will have to re-
evaluate the approach unless there is a different agenda being pushed
through this project!
Regards,
Fred Bukachi, MD
HealthNet, Kenya
e-mail: FBukachi@ken.healthnet.org
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